Worldviews of Research Philosophy

Introduction

Ontology, epistemology and axiology are at the foundation of research philosophy. Ontology is the study of the nature of being. Epistemology is the study of knowledge or how one comes to know things. Axiology is the study of the nature of values. Being, knowledge and values are intimately connected in business research, because they set the stage for how one will ultimately collect and analyze the data that will be used in research. They are what help to shape the worldview of the researcher. Worldviews of research philosophy fall into one of four main categories: positivism, interpretivism, pragmatism, and realism. Each research philosophy comes with its own set of underlying ideas and propositions and has its own strengths and weaknesses, pros and cons. This paper describes those underlying ideas, strengths and weaknesses, pros and cons, and how worldviews of research have influenced business and organizational research in the past. It also discusses which worldview tends to dominate in the area of business research.

Underlying Ideas and Propositions

The term research philosophy refers simply to the system of beliefs and assumptions about the development of knowledge (Saunders et al., 2009, p. 124). It is important to consider the underlying ideas and propositions of ones research philosophy because by engaging in research, one creates new knowledgeand ones assumptions and beliefs about how to do that can shape the outcomes associated with the research. For instance, ones values and views on how one knows reality can determine the methods one uses in research, which in turn determine the type of data one collects and how one analyzes that data. That methodology in turn can affect the degree to which and the type of knowledge that is created in the end result.

It is not expected that any researcher ever sets out to conduct research without a set of assumptions. On the contrary, by identifying and defining ones assumptions, the researcher establishes a base of credibility for his own research (Saunders et al., 2009). Understanding ones own beliefs, assumptions and values, however, depends upon the possession of the skill of reflexivity (Pillow, 2003). Reflexivity is what enables one to identify and assess the underlying ideas and propositions shaping ones worldview and how they might affect ones research. When it comes to business and management research, there are many underlying ideas and propositions that actually clash with one another, leading researchers to adopt philosophies of research that drastically alter the derivation of new knowledge in the field.

Two perspectives on business management that have emerged over the years are the pluralist and the unificationist perspectives. The pluralist worldview holds that diverse views are helpful to the field; unificationists hold that fragmentation of views prevents the field from advancing in a meaningful and coherently scientific manner (Saunders et al., 2009). For the sake of understanding the historical impact of views, a pluralist perspective is often adopted.

Views on the nature of reality, how knowledge is derived, and what values are important also play a significant role in the shaping of research philosophies. For instance, early researchers in business management assumed that resistance to change constituted an obstacle that should be eliminated; later researchers adopted a different ontological position on the matter and viewed resistance to change within an organization as inherently organic and as something to be harnessed so as to rethink change management modeling rather than as something to be eliminated altogether (Saunders et al., 2009; Kotter, 2012).

Views on the nature of knowledge are also important. Facts, statistics, interpretations, stories, direct experienceall of this contributes to knowledge. Yet some research philosophers gear towards one certain type of facts. For instance, positivists lean toward statistical data and quantitative research because this offers an objective and verifiable conclusion. However, it also means that the knowledge is going to be limited and...

…adequate worldview. The pros of this philosophy are that it supports identifying a research problem and posing a research question. The cons of this philosophy are that it focuses only on practical applications of knowledge and not on developing a theoretical understanding of universals.

How Worldviews of Research Influenced Business Research

Worldviews of research have influenced business research in myriad ways in the past. For instance, worldviews on leadership are what led to the idea of the Great Man Thesis (Spencer, 1896). As worldviews change, ideas on leadership subsequently changed with them, and gave ground to new ideas such as trait theory (Sanders, 2006; Stogdill, 1948; Cacamis & El Asmar, 2014). This shift came about as organizations sought to promote individuals who might serve as good leaders; they wanted to identify traits that could make leaders recognizable. But other researchers adopted different philosophies, such as realism and pragmatism, and thus determined that a leaders effectiveness will depend on the environment in which he is situated (Northouse, 2015). Over time, worldviews thus shape research in many ways. Other instances include the development of scientific management by Taylor (1914), the impact of culture on an organization, and how motivation plays a part in management (Maslow, 1943; Schein, 2017). One worldview that dominates today is that of positivism, especially with the arrival machine learning and algorithmic-driven analysis. Managers want statistical inputs for problem-solving, and they rely on quantitative researc to facilitate this process.

Conclusion

Worldviews of research philosophy are important when conducting research because they shape not only how the research is conducted but also why it is conducted. A worldview that focuses on exploration and interpersonal exchanges will lead a researcher to value exploratory research using qualitative designs. A worldview that favors objective knowledge albeit in limited windows will favor quantitative analysis. Worldviews can be combined to allow for a fuller understanding of business research, but there is no guarantee that conflicts will not arise. With…